Matthew 6:27-29

 

 

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Seemon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890)

Click to enlarge
"Sermon on the Mount"
(Bloch)

Matthew 6:27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? (NASB: Lockman)

Greek:  tis de ex humon merimnon (PAPMSN) dunatai (3SPPI) prostheinai (AAN) epi ten elikian autou pecheun ena?
Amplified: And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

KJV: Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
NLT: Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. (
NLT - Tyndale House)
Philips:  Can any of you, however much he worries, make himself an inch taller? (
New Testament in Modern English)
Wuest:  Moreover, who is there of you who by worrying is able to put to his stature eighteen inches? (
Wuest: Expanded Translation: Erdmans)

Young's Literal: And who of you, being anxious, is able to add to his age one cubit?

REFERENCES

Albert Barnes
Brian Bell
John Calvin
Rich Cathers
Oswald Chambers
Thomas Constable
Ron Daniels
Bob Deffinbaugh
John Gill
Guglielmo, Joe
David Guzik
Danny Hall
Danny Hall
Matthew Henry
F B Hole
IVP Commentary
Jamieson, F. B
S Lewis Johnson
Hampton Keathley
John Lightfoot
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
J Vernon McGee
Phil Newton
A W Pink
John Piper
John Piper
John Piper
Ray Pritchard
Ray Pritchard
A T Robertson
Gil Rugh
J C Ryle
J C Ryle
Chuck Smith
Marvin Vincent
Steve Zeisler
Precept Ministries
Our Daily Bread

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Matthew 6:19-34 Don’t Be Anxious, Lay Up Treasures
Matthew 6:24-34: Do Not Be Anxious about Your Life
Matthew 6:25-34: Battling the Unbelief of Anxiety
Matthew 6:19-34 The Treasure Principle
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Matthew 6:25-34 Do Not Be Anxious
Matthew 6 Commentary
Matthew 6:25-34 Expository Thoughts
Matthew 186 Sermons
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Matthew 6:1-14, 16-18: Honored by Men, or By God?
Inductive Study on Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 6:25-34

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life: tis de ex humon merimnon (PAPMSN) dunatai (3SPPI) prostheinai (AAN) epi ten helikian autou pecheun ena?: (Mt 5:36; Psalms 39:6; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Luke 12:25,26; 1 Corinthians 12:18)

able to add to his age one cubit? (Young's Literal)

See related resources...

How To Handle Fear Part 1
How To Handle Fear Part 2
How To Handle Fear Part 3
How To Handle Fear Part 4

1 Peter 5:7 Notes on casting your anxiety

What are we to do when we are worried?

Philippians 4:6 Notes on be anxious for nothing
Philippians 4:7 Notes on the peace of God

Being worried (3309) (merimnao from merimna  from merizo = divide - draw different directions ~ distraction) (Click word studies on merimnao and merimna) (Click in depth word study of Anxiety= merimna). Being worried is in the present tense which describes worry or anxiety as the habit of ones' life -- a veritable lifestyle of worry.

Add a single hour - We cannot add neither hour nor hair for earlier Jesus said...

you cannot make one hair white or black.

Add (4369) (prostithemi from prós = to or besides + títhemi = put) means to add something to an existing quantity. The Greek phrase may refer to adding time to one’s lifespan or to one's stature (height).

The question we need to ask is "Will worrying accomplish anything positive whatsoever?" In fact instead of adding "a single hour" worry tends to distract and breeds a loss of focus which results in loss of potentially productive time, not to mention the potentially damaging effects on one's health and longevity.

Anxiety is the interest paid on trouble before it is due

Hour (4083) (pechus) "cubit" is the length of a man's forearm from the inside of the elbow to the end of the longest finger.  Worry about the future is futile and a dishonor to God because it is an issue of not trusting in His sovereignty or total control.

No one can add an hour or an inch to life by worrying. In fact, worry does the opposite, reducing our life span and robbing us of joy. We must remember that our attitude is our choice.

J C Ryle writes that Jesus

points out the uselessness of over-anxiety. Our life is certainly in God’s hand; all the care in the world will not make us continue a minute beyond the me which God has appointed. We cannot add one hour to our lives; we shall not die till our work is done. (Matthew 6:25-34 Expository Thoughts)

Life (2244) (helikia from helix = adult, full–aged) refers to maturity of life in terms of either stature or size.

Jesus is saying in essence "Who by worrying can add an inch to his height or a single moment to his life?" The answer of course is no one can. This is the paradox about worry. In a manner of speaking, a man can "worry himself to death", but he cannot worry himself into a longer life! The writer of Hebrews says that...

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment (see note Hebrews 9:27)

That is one appointment every person must keep and which cannot be postponed or rescheduled. Ray Pritchard illustrates with a humorous tale of two baseball players, George and John, writing that...

One day they were talking and John said, "Do you think they play baseball in heaven?" "I don't know," said George, "But if I get there before you do, I'll try to come back and let you know." Well, the very next week George died suddenly. A few days later John was out walking by himself when he heard a voice call his name. He looked around but no one was there. The voice called his name again. "Is that you, George?" he whispered. "Yes, it's me," said the voice. "Well, do they play baseball up there?" The voice answered, "John, I've got some good news and some bad news about that. The good news is, they play baseball up here all the time. The bad news is, they've got you scheduled to pitch next week." That's the way life is. One day you're shoveling snow; the next day you're pitching for the Angels. But it could happen to any of us...Nothing you can do can change that fact in the least. The whole matter is in God's hands. So to worry about terminal illness or a freak accident is pointless. Nothing you can do makes the slightest difference. You cannot by worrying add a single second to your life.

That lifts a tremendous load off your shoulders, doesn't it? You're going to die someday. Maybe today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe later this year. But maybe not for fifty years. Maybe suddenly. Maybe slowly. Only God knows how it will happen. But that means you are living on borrowed time. Only God knows when your time is up and your appointment has come. That means you don't have to worry about dying. That's out of your hands. Therefore, you are free to relax, enjoy life, live each day to the fullest and go for all the gusto you can get. And let God worry about how things turn out. (Matthew 6:25-34 Three Things Not To Worry About)

 

Matthew 6:28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: kai peri endumatos ti merimnate? (2PPAI) katamathete (2PAAM) ta krina tou agrou pos auxanousin; ou kopiosin (3PPAI) oude nethousin; (3PPAI)
Amplified: And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

KJV: And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
NLT: And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing (
NLT - Tyndale House)
Philips:  And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They neither work nor weave (
New Testament in Modern English)
Wuest:  And concerning clothing, why are you worrying? Consider well the lilies of the field, and learn thoroughly in what way they grow. They are not laboring to the point of exhaustion nor even are they spinning. (
Wuest: Expanded Translation: Erdmans)

Young's Literal: and about clothing why are ye anxious? consider well the lilies of the field; how do they grow? they do not labour, nor do they spin;

And why are you worried about clothing?: kai peri endumatos ti merimnate? (2PPAI): (Mt 6:25,31; 10:10; Luke 3:11; 22:35,36)

Guzik has an interesting insight that

Undue care is an intrusion into God's arena. It makes us the father of the household instead of being a child.

Vine adds that

Anxiety harasses the soul; it enfeebles, irritates, ruffles the temper, is a sign of mistrust and of failing obedience, and distracts the mind from communion with God. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos)

Worried (3309) (merimnao from merimna  from merizo = divide - draw different directions - which is exactly what anxiety does to most of us!) (Click word studies on merimnao and merimna) expresses a strong feeling for something or someone, often to the point of being burdened. Although this can be a "positive" concern, in most of the NT uses it refers to an anxious concern, based on apprehension about possible danger or misfortune, and so it means to be worried about, to be anxious about, to be apprehensive (viewing the future with anxiety or alarm), to be unduly concerned, to be burdened with anxious care or cumbered with many cares and in simple terms to worry. The idea inherent in merimnao is of attempting to carry the burden of the future oneself and of unreasonable anxiety especially about things over which one has no control.

Worry has a fascinating etymology which can be traced back to the Old High German "wurgen" which means "to strangle" which is what worry does to our joy! Webster adds that in "dialect British" worry means to "choke" or to "strangle".  The first definition of "worry" in Webster is

"to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat", and then "to subject to persistent or nagging attention or effort" and "to afflict with mental distress or agitation = make anxious". (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 10th ed. Springfield, Mass)

The English word anxious also has a fascinating derivation from the Latin word anxius which is akin to the Latin verb angere which means to strangle (compare with "worry" above)! Isn't that what anxiety does to most of us...strangle us and render us ineffective in God's kingdom work?

Merimnao in the present context means to have an anxious concern, based on apprehension about possible danger or misfortune and is characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency and emphasizes a fear of frustration, failure or disappointment.  

Worried is in the present tense which describes worry or anxiety as the habit of ones' life.  

What a tragic state - a lifestyle characterized by constant worry! And yet don't many believers live in such a state? Jesus gives us the antidote to such mental "angst". Perhaps you need to memorize this section of Scripture so that you can recall Jesus' words to mind the next time those fiery missiles of worry and anxiety attack. That's when you need to take up the shield of faith to buttress yourself from those distractive, destructive thoughts.

But what does it mean in this context to take up the shield of faith? Biblical faith is not based on mental gymnastics but upon truth, specifically the truth of God's Word. And what is the truth that the God Man prescribes to counter the poison of worry? Obviously these passages are part of the answer. And yet do we really believe Jesus' Words? Do we take the necessary time to really study (see "observe" below) His Words? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. If we want to be fortified against the attacks of anxious thoughts, we must obey Jesus' command to closely and thoroughly study this section of Scripture. And given the tendency for all of us to forget what we once learned, we need to make a regular habit of coming back to this section, pondering it, praying through it, laying hold of it by faith, as if our very life depended on it, because in one sense it does! Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word which proceeds from the mouth of God. We can know these truths intellectually, but Jesus wants us to know them intimately and internally... in our heart, in the control center of our very being. It is not God's will for His precious children to be fretting and worrying. Anxiety and worry is unavoidable because we live in a fallen world and even as redeemed believers still possess the old sin nature inherited from Adam. And so we are vulnerable to worry and anxiety, but we don't have to live in this condition continually if we heed Jesus' command.

Three times the sweet Psalmist David tells (commands) us not to fret (worry)...

(A Psalm of David.) Do not fret because of evildoers. Be not envious toward wrongdoers. (Why not?)
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herb.
3
Trust (a command, not a suggestion) in the LORD, and do (another command - faith that truly believes will behave) good; Dwell (command) in the land and cultivate faithfulness (What does "cultivate" picture? Is this not the time and effort you would invest in a newly planted, expensive fruit tree in your backyard. This is working out your salvation is fear and trembling knowing that you are not alone in the process, for it is God Who is at work in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him! - see notes Philippians 2:12; 13)
4
Delight (command) yourself in the LORD (Why? What is the advantage?) and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5
Commit (command)  your way to the LORD, Trust (command) also in Him, and He will do it.
6 And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday.
7
Rest (command) in the LORD and wait (command) patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8
Cease (command) from anger, and forsake (command) wrath; Do not fret, (Why not?) it leads only to evildoing. (You might want to read that again! Notice in verse 1 we are not to fret because of evil doers and here for the third time David [who well knew about "evil doers" such as Saul who desired to kill him!] warns us of the effects on us -- we are led to do evil!)

Spurgeon has these words on Psalm 37...

(Notes on verse 1) It is alas! too common for believers in their hours of adversity to think themselves harshly dealt with when they see persons utterly destitute of religion and honesty, rejoicing in abundant prosperity. Much needed is the command, Fret not thyself because of evildoers. To fret is to worry, to have the heartburn, to fume, to become vexed. Nature is very apt to kindle a fire of jealousy when it sees lawbreakers riding on horses, and obedient subjects walking in the mire: it is a lesson learned only in the school of grace, when one comes to view the most paradoxical providences with the devout complacency of one who is sure that the Lord is righteous in all His acts. It seems hard to carnal judgments that the best meat should go to the dogs, while loving children pine for want of it.

Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. The same advice under another shape. When one is poor, despised, and in deep trial, our old Adam naturally becomes envious of the rich and great; and when we are conscious that we have been more righteous than they, the devil is sure to be at hand with blasphemous reasonings (Ed note: "fiery missiles"). Stormy weather may curdle even the cream of humanity. Evil men instead of being envied, are to be viewed with horror and aversion; yet their loaded tables, and gilded trappings, are too apt to fascinate our poor half opened eyes. Who envies the fat bullock the ribbons and garlands which decorate him as he is led to the shambles? Yet the case is a parallel one; for ungodly rich men are but as beasts fattened for the slaughter.

(Notes on verse 7) Rest in the Lord. This fifth is a most divine precept, and requires much grace to carry it out. To hush the spirit, to be silent before the Lord, to wait in holy patience the time for clearing up the difficulties of Providence -- that is what every gracious heart should aim at. "Aaron held his peace:" "I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it." A silent tongue in many cases not only shows a wise head, but a holy heart. And wait patiently for him. Time is nothing to him; let it be nothing to thee. God is worth waiting for. "He never is before his time, he never is too late." In a story we wait for the end to clear up the plot; we ought not to prejudge the great drama of life, but stay till the closing scene, and see to what a finis the whole arrives.

Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. There is no good, but much evil, in worrying your heart about the present success of graceless plotters: be not enticed into premature judgments -- they dishonour God, they weary yourself. Determine, let the wicked succeed as they may, that you will treat the matter with indifference, and never allow a question to be raised as to the righteousness and goodness of the Lord. What if wicked devices succeed and your own plans are defeated! there is more of the love of God in your defeats than in the successes of the wicked

(Notes on verse 8)  Cease from anger and forsake wrath. Especially anger against the arrangements of Providence, and jealousies of the temporary pleasures of those who are so soon to be banished from all comfort. Anger anywhere is madness, here it is aggravate insanity. Yet since anger will try to keep us company, we must resolvedly forsake it. Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. By no reasonings and under no circumstances be led into such a course. Fretfulness lies upon the verge of great sin. Many who have indulged a murmuring disposition have at last come to sin, in order to gain their fancied rights. Beware of carping at others, study to be yourself found in the right way; and as you would dread outward sin, tremble at inward repining.  (See all of Spurgeon's notes on Psalm 37 - click here)

Clothing - Why does Jesus mention food and clothing? Aren't these the basic necessities of life? And as such these basic elements stand for all of the things we need to live in this world, including housing, jobs, money, etc. Jesus is saying don't worry about any of these things.

Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin:  katamathete (2PAAM) ta krina tou agrou pos auxanousin; ou kopiosin (3PPAI) oude nethousin: (Luke 12:27)

Observe (2648) (katamanthano from kata = prefix to intensify the meaning + manthano = intentional learning by inquiry & observation, genuinely understand and accept a teaching accept it as true and to apply it in one’s life) means to learn thoroughly, to study carefully so that one learns thoroughly.

Jesus is giving the antidote for worry or anxiety as a command not a suggestion --  Observe, study (aorist imperative = do this now, do it effectively, don't delay) the lilies well that may well learn thoroughly the lesson they teach.

Have you ever seen a worried lily? Do they toil and spin? Of course not. They don't have to because God takes care of them. But children of God are living souls of infinitely more value than the lilies of the field, for they have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb. God will make sure your body is clothed with what you need.

J C Ryle writing that Jesus

tells us to look at the flowers of the field. Year after year they are decked with the brightest colors, without the slightest labor or exertion on their part: “they do not labor or spin”. God, by His almighty power, clothes them with beauty every season. The same God is the Father of all believers. Why should they doubt that He is able to provide them with clothing, just as He cares for the “lilies of the field”? Anyone who thinks about perishable flowers will surely not neglect the bodies in which immortal souls dwell. (Matthew 6:25-34 Expository Thoughts)

O Lord! How Happy Should We Be

O Lord! how happy should we be,
If we could leave our cares to Thee,
If we from self could rest;
And feel at heart that One above,
In perfect wisdom, perfect love,
Is working for the best.

How far from this our daily life
How oft disturbed by anxious strife,
By sudden wild alarms;
Oh, could we but relinquish all
Our earthly props, and simply fall
On Thy Almighty arms

Could we but kneel and cast our care
Upon our God in humble prayer,
With strengthened souls we rise,
Sure that our Father Who is nigh,
To hear the ravens when they cry,
Will hear His children’s cries.

We cannot trust Him as we should;
So chafes weak nature’s restless mood
To cast its peace away;
But birds and flowerets round us preach,
All, all the present evil teach
Sufficient for the day.

Lord, make these faithless hearts of ours
Such lessons learn from birds and flowers,
And learn from self to cease;
Leave all things to a Father’s will,
And taste, before Him lying still
E’en in affliction, peace!